2 critically shot in DuPage County home invasion

October 23, 2009

Two people were hospitalized in critical but stable condition Friday after they were shot during an early-morning home invasion by three men in an unincorporated area of DuPage County near Glen Ellyn, authorities said.

The victims, a 20-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man, were taken to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove following the incident, which happened about 2 a.m. in the 800 block of Busch Road when the three men entered the home and shot at the occupants, according to DuPage County sheriff's police. A 24-year-old man who was shot at did not require medical assistance.

Sheriff's officers were seen walking in and out of a home Friday afternoon. There were no reports of arrests, and police did not disclose a motive.

Police said they were alerted by a 911 call from one of the victims.

A neighbor, Nancy Palmer, 58, said her adult daughter woke her up after 2 a.m. to tell her she heard gunshots coming from the home across the street.

"The block was full of police vehicles," said Palmer. "We didn't know what was going on, but we knew something serious had happened."

Palmer said the people who lived in the home "keep to themselves," and are renters. She added that her daughter has observed many frequent visitors at the home during the early-morning hours in the past.

Neighbor Dennis Gunsteen, 67, said he slept through the entire incident but said most of the residents of the house recently moved in. Another neighbor said a man at the home is often seen walking a dog down the street.

"I'm very surprised," said Gunsteen, who has lived on the leafy suburban street for 35 years. "This is a really quiet neighborhood. It's upsetting to hear about this happening on my block, but I am really not concerned about our safety since it seems like the people were targeted."

In a news release, police said they have no reason to believe that there is a threat to other residents of the area. No other information was available.